Stress, Marital Satisfaction, and Psychological Distress Among African Americans

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 1081-1105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen D. Lincoln ◽  
David H. Chae
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Marital Satisfaction ◽  
Marital Quality ◽  
Financial Strain ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Social Stressors ◽  
Unfair Treatment

This study examines relationships among financial strain, unfair treatment, and martial satisfaction among African Americans. Using data from the National Survey of American Life, findings indicated that social stressors that occur inside of the home (i.e., financial strain) as well as those experienced outside of the home (i.e., unfair treatment) have negative consequences for marital quality and psychological distress. Furthermore, the combination of experiencing unfair treatment and financial strain has particularly deleterious mental health consequences for married African Americans. Results also highlight the protective effect of marital satisfaction on psychological distress as well as its potential to buffer the negative effects of unfair treatment and financial strain on psychological distress. Implications for policy to improve marital quality and promote the mental health of African Americans are discussed.

Unemployment Normalization: Its Effect on Mental Health During Various Stages of Unemployment

2018 ◽  
Vol 122 (5) ◽  
pp. 1600-1617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Thill ◽  
Claude Houssemand ◽  
Anne Pignault
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Health ◽  
Job Loss ◽  
First Year ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Positive Perception ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Coping Process ◽  
Normalization Process

The negative effects of job loss on mental health have been thoroughly described in the literature. However, different fluctuations in mental health during the unemployment period have been noticed. We argue that a coping process takes place in this kind of situation. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of the unemployment normalization process on mental health during various stages of unemployment. Participants ( N = 803) completed the General Health Questionaire-12 and the Unemployment Normalization Questionnaire. Results showed that a negative perception of unemployment had the greatest impact on mental health during the different phases of unemployment. Nevertheless, during the first year, having a positive perception counteracted these negative effects, and after 1 year, the unemployment norm took over the role of buffering against the negative effects on mental health. These results indicate that unemployment is still perceived as negative, but depending on the stage of unemployment, various coping strategies are used to buffer the negative consequences of unemployment.

scholarly journals Psychosocial effects of homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic: Differences between seven European countries and between children with and without mental health conditions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa B Thorell ◽  
Charlotte Borg Skoglund ◽  
Almudena Giménez de la Peña ◽  
Dieter Baeyens ◽  
Anselm Fuermaier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Mental Health Condition ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Psychosocial Effects ◽  
Positive Effects

The aim of the present study was to examine parental experiences of homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic in families with or without a child with a mental health condition across Europe. The study included 6720 parents (2002 parents with a child with a mental health condition and 4718 without) from seven European countries: the United Kingdom (n=508), Sweden (n=1436), Spain (n=1491), Belgium (n=508), the Netherlands (n=324), Germany (n=1662) and Italy (n=794). Many parents found homeschooling to be of poor quality, with insufficient support from schools and general negative effects on both children and parents. In most countries, online teaching was uncommon, leaving parents with primary responsibility for managing their child’s schooling. Parents also reported increased levels of stress, worry, social isolation, and domestic conflict. A small number of parents reported increased parental alcohol/drug use. Some differences were found between countries and some effects were more pronounced in families with a child with a mental health condition. However, group differences were generally small, indicating that negative effects were present in many families across countries. It should also be noted that some parents reported positive effects of homeschooling for their child or themselves. The adverse effects of homeschooling will likely have a long-term impact and contribute to increased inequalities. Given that school closures have been argued to be less effective than other social distancing interventions, policymakers need to carefully consider the negative consequences of homeschooling during a possible second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics.

Cultural Mistrust and Mental Health Services for African Americans

2001 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 513-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur L. Whaley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cultural Mistrust ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Health Services Use ◽  
College Sample ◽  
Mental Health Services Use

The underutilization of mental health services by African Americans may be due, in part, to their cultural mistrust. The purpose of this article is twofold: (a) to conduct a meta-analysis of the correlations between cultural mistrust in African Americans and their attitudes and behaviors related to mental health services use, comparing them to the correlations between cultural mistrust and measures relevant to other psychosocial domains, and (b) to test some methodological hypotheses about the Cultural Mistrust Inventory, the most popular measure of cultural mistrust. The meta-analysis suggests that the negative effects of Blacks’ cultural mistrust in interracial situations are not unique to counseling and psychotherapy but represent a broader perspective. The meta-analysis also suggests that development of the Cultural Mistrust Inventory with a male-only college sample did not compromise its external validity. The implications of these results for the provision of mental health services to African Americans are discussed.

scholarly journals THOSE LEFT BEHIND

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-33
Author(s):  
Alexis C. Dennis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Traumatic Events ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Science Literature ◽  
The Social ◽  
Working Age ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract While the socioeconomic status (SES)–psychological distress gradient is well-documented in the social science literature, less attention has been devoted to how this relationship varies within sociodemographic subgroups. I contribute to this small but growing literature by first examining the relationship between multiple dimensions of SES and two measures of psychological distress (depression and anxiety) among working-age African Americans. I then test whether three social mediators explain the SES–psychological distress relationship, and whether gender modifies these associations and/or the social mediators that shape them. To address these aims, I analyze two waves of population-representative data from the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study (N=685). Data were collected between 2008 and 2010 in the wake of the Great Recession. I utilize structural equation modeling with latent variables to assess these relationships, and test indirect and conditional effects to detect the presence of mediation and/or moderation, respectively. Findings revealed associations between higher total household income and lower levels of depression/anxiety, as well as unemployment and increased depression/anxiety among working-age African Americans. Furthermore, higher educational attainment was associated with reduced anxiety, but not depression, in this population. Gender moderated these findings such that unemployment was associated with higher levels of depression/anxiety among women but not men. I also found that trauma mediated the relationship between unemployment and depression/anxiety as well as educational attainment and anxiety. Gender, however, moderated the association between unemployment and depression/anxiety via traumatic events such that the relationship was stronger among women than men. Collectively, these findings contribute to our limited understanding of African Americans’ mental health and underscore the importance of how both socioeconomic forces and life course experiences with traumatic events contribute to poor mental health among this population.

scholarly journals Financial strain and stressful social environment drive depressive symptoms, while FKBP5 variant intensifies the effect, in African Americans living in Tallahassee

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kia Fuller ◽  
Clarence C. Gravlee ◽  
Chris McCarty ◽  
Miaisha M. Mitchell ◽  
Connie J. Mulligan
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Age Of Onset ◽  
The United States ◽  
Financial Strain ◽  
World Health ◽  
Social Stressors ◽  
The Social

AbstractThe World Health Organization estimates that almost 300 million people suffer from depression worldwide. Depression is the most common mental health disorder and shows racial disparities in disease prevalence, age of onset, severity of symptoms, frequency of diagnosis, and treatment utilization across the United States. Since depression has both social and genetic risk factors, we propose a conceptual model wherein social stressors are primary risk factors for depression, but genetic variants increase or decrease individual susceptibility to the effects of the social stressors. Our research strategy incorporates both social and genetic data to investigate variation in symptoms of depression (CES-D scores). We collected data on financial strain (difficulty paying bills) and personal social networks (a model of an individual’s social environment), and we genotyped genetic variants in five genes involved in stress reactivity (HTR1a, BDNF, GNB3, SLC6A4, and FKBP5) in 135 African Americans residing in Tallahassee, Florida. We found that high financial strain and a high percentage of people in one’s social network who are a source of stress or worry were significantly associated with higher CES-D scores and explained more variation in CES-D scores than did genetic factors. Only one genetic variant (rs1360780 in FKBP5) was significantly associated with CES-D scores and only when the social stressors were included in the model. Interestingly, the effect of FKPB5 appeared to be strongest in individuals with high financial strain such that participants with a T allele at rs1360780 in FKBP5 and high financial strain had the highest mean CES-D scores in our study population. These results suggest that material disadvantage and a stressful social environment increases the risk of depression, but that individual-level genetic variation may increase susceptibility to the adverse health consequences of social stressors.

Is the Moderating Effect of Social Support on New Korean Mothers’ Psychological Distress Contingent on Levels of Marital Quality?

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ki Tae Park
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Marital Quality ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Korean Children ◽  
Korean Mothers ◽  
The Individual

This study examines how levels of marital quality change the effect of social support on postpartum psychological distress among new Korean mothers using the Panel Study on Korean Children (N = 1585). In accord with findings from previous studies, this study shows that low marital quality negatively affects new mothers’ mental health, but that social support alleviates psychological distress independent of marital quality. The main finding of this research is that the moderating effect of social support is contingent on levels of marital quality. Aggregated social support moderates the effects of marital quality on new mothers’ mental health only when the level of marital quality is low. Furthermore, each dimension of social support (emotional, informational, and instrumental) only has a moderating effect when marital quality is low. The findings highlight the fact that the moderating effect of social support varies with the individual context and so customized social support that fits individual needs matters for the mental health of new mothers.

scholarly journals Mapping population mental health concerns related to COVID-19 and the consequences of physical distancing: a Google trends analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duleeka Knipe ◽  
Hannah Evans ◽  
Amanda Marchant ◽  
David Gunnell ◽  
Ann John
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Social Stressors ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Population Mental Health ◽  
The Impact

Background: The 2020 Coronavirus pandemic is a major international public health challenge.  Governments have taken public health protection measures to reduce the spread of the virus through non-pharmalogical measures. The impact of the pandemic and the public health response on individual and population mental health is unknown.  Methods: We used Google Trends data (1 Jan 2020 - 1 Apr 2020) to investigate the impact of the pandemic and government measures to curb it on people’s concerns, as indexed by changes in search frequency for topics indicating mental distress, social and economic stressors and mental health treatment-seeking. We explored the changes of key topics in Google trends in Italy, Spain, USA, UK, and Worldwide in relation to sentinel events during the pandemic. Results: Globally there appears to be significant concerns over the financial and work-related consequences of the pandemic, with some evidence that levels of fear are rising. Conversely searching for topics related to depression and suicide fell after the pandemic was announced, with some evidence that searches for the latter have risen recently. Concerns over education and access to medication appear to be particular social stressors. Whilst searches for face-to-face treatments have declined, those for self-care have risen. Conclusions: Monitoring Google trends shows promise as a means of tracking changing public concerns. In weeks to come it may enable policy makers to assess the impact of their interventions including those aiming to limit negative consequences, such as government funded financial safety nets.

Paternal Depression & Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily E Cameron ◽  
Kayla M. Joyce ◽  
Kathryn Rollins ◽  
Leslie E Roos
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Marital Quality ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Financial Strain ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Paternal Depression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Maternal Report ◽  
Increased Risk

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed family functioning and increased parenting demands, leading to increased risk for poor psychosocial outcomes. Emerging evidence underscores the significant impact the pandemic has had on maternal mental health concerns. In contrast, paternal mental health has yet to be described. The current study describes the prevalence of depression and anxiety in fathers of young children as well as associated risk and protective factors.Methods: As part of the Parenting during the Pandemic study, fathers (N = 70) of children age 0-8 years old self-reported on mental health symptoms and additional concerns, while mothers (N = 236) provided a partner-report of father perinatal depression.Results:. Clinically significant depression (37.1%) and anxiety (22.9%) were prevalent in fathers. Partner reported perinatal depression was prevalent in 61.9% of fathers. Higher financial strain and previous mental health history were associated with increased risk of both depression andanxiety. Maternal report of paternal depression was associated with higher financial strain, greater number of children in the home, and lower maternal-reported marital quality. Limitations: The current study used cross-sectional data from an online cohort. The sample size limits the generalizability of the findings; future research should continue evaluating this important topic with larger samples.Conclusions: Compared to pre-pandemic population comparisons, paternal depression and anxiety are elevated in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Intervention recommendations and implications are discussed.

scholarly journals Cigarette Use, E-Cigarette Use, and Dual Product Use Are Higher Among Adults With Serious Psychological Distress in the United States: 2014–2017

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 1875-1882
Author(s):  
Andrea H Weinberger ◽  
Jiaqi Zhu ◽  
Jessica L Barrington-Trimis ◽  
Katarzyna Wyka ◽  
Renee D Goodwin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Serious Psychological Distress ◽  
Dual Use ◽  
The Past ◽  
Product Use ◽  
Distress Scale

Abstract Introduction Cigarette use is declining yet remains common among adults with mental health conditions. In contrast, e-cigarette use may be on the rise. This study investigated the relationship between serious psychological distress (SPD) and the exclusive and dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes among US adults from 2014 to 2017. Aims and Methods Data came from 2014 to 2017 National Health Interview Survey, an annual, cross-sectional survey of nationally representative samples of US adults (total combined analytic sample n = 125 302). Past-month SPD was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) and cigarette and e-cigarette use were assessed at each wave. Logistic regressions examined product use by SPD status in 2017 and trends in product use by SPD status from 2014 to 2017. Analyses adjusted for demographic covariates. Results The prevalence of cigarette use, e-cigarette use, and dual use was higher among adults with SPD than without SPD in each year including the most recent data year 2017 (cigarette use, 39.50% vs. 13.40%, p < .001; e-cigarette use, 7.41% vs. 2.65%, p < .001; dual use, 5.30% vs. 1.26%, p < .001). Among adults with SPD, the prevalence of cigarette, e-cigarette, and dual product use did not change from 2014 to 2017 in contrast to a decreasing prevalence in cigarette, e-cigarette, and dual product use among individuals without SPD. Conclusions US adults with SPD report higher levels of cigarette, e-cigarette, and dual product use than adults without SPD. Use of these products has not declined over the past several years in contrast to decreasing trends among adults without SPD. Implications These data extend our knowledge of tobacco product use and mental health disparities by showing that in addition to higher levels of cigarette use, US adults with SPD also use e-cigarettes and dual products (cigarette and e-cigarette) more commonly than those without SPD. Furthermore, the use of these products has not declined over the past several years in contrast to continuing declines among adults without SPD. More research is needed to understand the potential positive and negative consequences of e-cigarette use among adults with SPD.

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